2020–21 Scottish Women's Premier League

The 2020–21 Scottish Women's Premier League was the 20th season of the SWPL, the highest division of women's football in Scotland since 2002. The league season was played in two divisions, SWPL 1 with eight teams and SWPL 2 with 10 teams.[1] Glasgow City were the defending champions, having won the last completed championship in 2019. The league was known as the Scottish Building Society Scottish Women's Premier League for sponsorship reasons.[2]

The previous season, 2020, was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic and was subsequently declared null and void.[3] Following this cancellation, Scottish Women's Football reverted to the winter-season format last used in 2008–09.[4] The new season started on 18 October 2020 and concluded on 4 July 2021. It had been agreed that there would be no relegation from SWPL 1, and that there would be 10 teams in the top division in 2021–22.[5] The 2020–21 season was interrupted for more than three months by the pandemic; SWPL 1 played no games between January and March.[6][7][8]

Glasgow City won the championship by three points from Celtic, the runners-up.[9] This was Glasgow City's 14th national league title in succession, the most in Scottish senior football history, and five fewer than the world record in women's football at the time, 19, by SFK.[10][11]

Aberdeen won the SWPL 2 title, and won promotion alongside the runners-up, Hamilton Academical.[12][13] Partick Thistle were later added as a third promoted club, after Forfar Farmington withdrew from the SWPL.[14]

Teams
Locations of teams in the 2020–21 SWPL 1
Locations of teams in the 2020–21 SWPL 2

SWPL 1
Team Location Head coach Home ground Capacity 2019 position
CelticEast KilbrideSpain Fran AlonsoK-Park Training Academy1,0003rd
Forfar FarmingtonForfarNorthern Ireland Ryan McConvilleStation Park6,7777th
Glasgow CityCumbernauldScotland Scott BoothBroadwood Stadium8,0861st
Heart of MidlothianEdinburghNorthern Ireland Andy KirkOriam1,0001st in SWPL 2
HibernianEdinburghScotland Dean GibsonAinslie Park3,0002nd
MotherwellAirdrieScotland Eddie Wolecki BlackExcelsior Stadium10,1016th
RangersMilngavieScotland Malky ThomsonRangers Training Centre5004th
SpartansEdinburghScotland Debbi McCullochAinslie Park3,0005th

Source: [15]

SWPL 2
Team Location Head coach Home ground Capacity 2019 position
AberdeenAberdeenScotland Emma Hunter
Scotland Stuart Bathgate		Cormack Park1st in SWFL 1 North
Boroughmuir ThistleEdinburghScotland Suzy ShepherdMeggetland Sports Complex1,0005th in SWFL 1 South
Dundee UnitedDundeeScotland Gavin BeithRegional Performance Centre3rd
Glasgow WomenGlasgowScotland Craig JoyceNew Tinto Park6th
Hamilton AcademicalHamiltonScotland Gary DoctorNew Douglas Park6,0182nd
KilmarnockKilmarnockScotland Andy GardnerRugby Park17,8894th
Partick ThistleGlasgowScotland Brian GrahamLochinch5th
Queen's ParkGlasgowScotland Mark KirkLesser Hampden1,0004th in SWFL 1 South
St JohnstonePerthScotland Jason McCrindleMcDiarmid Park10,6967th
Stirling UniversityStirlingScotland Craig BeveridgeGannochy Sports Centre1,0008th in SWPL 1

Source: [15]

SWPL 1
Scottish Women's Premier League 1
Season2020–21
ChampionsGlasgow City
Champions LeagueGlasgow City
Celtic
Matches played84
Goals scored344 (4.1 per match)
Top goalscorerLizzie Arnot
(16 goals)
Biggest home winRangers 11–0 Forfar Farmington
(25 April 2021)
Biggest away winHeart of Midlothian 0–10 Celtic
(1 November 2020)
Highest scoringRangers 11–0 Forfar Farmington
(25 April 2021)
Longest winning runSeven games:
Glasgow City
Longest unbeaten run14 games:
Glasgow City
Longest winless run11 games:
Forfar Farmington
Longest losing run10 games:
Forfar Farmington
← 2020

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Glasgow City (C) 21 18 2 1 77 16 +61 56 Qualification for the Champions League first round
2 Celtic 21 17 2 2 76 12 +64 53
3 Rangers 21 16 0 5 76 10 +66 48
4 Hibernian 21 9 2 10 42 27 +15 29
5 Spartans 21 9 2 10 29 42 −13 29
6 Motherwell 21 4 0 17 18 78 −60 12
7 Forfar Farmington 21 3 2 16 17 90 −73 11 Withdrew from SWPL after season
8 Heart of Midlothian 21 2 2 17 9 69 −60 8
Source: [16]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions

Positions by round
Champions and UEFA Champions League first round
UEFA Champions League first round

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological progress, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for matchday 13, but then postponed and played between days 16 and 17, it will be added to the standings for day 16.

Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021
Glasgow City311111222111111111111
Celtic743223333333323332222
Rangers132332111222232223333
Hibernian424445464455555445554
Spartans566656545544444554445
Motherwell677777777877777776666
Forfar Farmington255564656666666667777
Heart of Midlothian888888888788888888888
Source: [16]

Results

SWPL 2
Scottish Women's Premier League 2
Season2020–21
Matches played92
Goals scored350 (3.8 per match)
Top goalscorerBayley Hutchison
(5 goals)
Biggest home winHamilton Academical 8–0 Stirling University
(29 November 2020)
Biggest away winBoroughmuir Thistle 0–9 Aberdeen
(25 October 2020)
Highest scoringBoroughmuir Thistle 0–9 Aberdeen
(25 October 2020)
Aberdeen 8–1 St Johnstone
(10 November 2020)
Longest winning runSix games:
Aberdeen
Longest unbeaten runSix games:
Aberdeen
Dundee United
Longest winless run11 games:
Stirling University
Longest losing runSix games:
Stirling University
← 2020
All statistics correct as of 9 June 2021.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Aberdeen 18 16 0 2 76 18 +58 48 Promotion to SWPL 1
2 Hamilton Academical 18 12 2 4 49 17 +32 38
3 Partick Thistle 18 11 2 5 46 22 +24 35 Later promoted to SWPL 1[14]
4 Dundee United 18 10 4 4 44 30 +14 34
5 St Johnstone 18 8 1 9 33 37 −4 25
6 Glasgow Women 18 6 2 10 24 37 −13 20
7 Queen's Park 18 4 2 12 18 47 −29 14
8 Kilmarnock 18 7 1 10 19 34 −15 22
9 Boroughmuir Thistle 18 4 3 11 24 44 −20 15
10 Stirling University 18 2 3 13 17 64 −47 9 To SWPL play-offs (cancelled)
Updated to match(es) played on 9 June 2021. Source: [17]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored

Positions by round
Promotion to 2021–22 SWPL 1
Qualification for the play-offs

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological progress, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for matchday 13, but then postponed and played between days 16 and 17, it will be added to the standings for day 16.

Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718
Aberdeen41111111111111
Hamilton Academical322223543322
Partick Thistle235754224433
Dundee United776686432244
St Johnstone654447877555
Glasgow Women143365666766
Queen's Park968832355677
Kilmarnock587578788988
Boroughmuir Thistle810101099999899
Stirling University1099910101010101010101010
Source: [17]

Results
Home \ Away ABE BOR DUN GLW HAM KIL PAR QPA STJ STI
Aberdeen 4–3 3–0 5–1 8–1 7–0
Boroughmuir Thistle 0–9 1–2 0–1 1–0 1–3 3–2
Dundee United 4–1 2–2 2–1 2–2 3–1
Glasgow Women 0–1 3–1 0–2 1–4 4–0
Hamilton Academical 0–1 3–1 1–2 5–0 8–0
Kilmarnock 0–5 3–1 0–4 1–0 0–3[lower-alpha 1] 1–2 2–1
Partick Thistle 5–1 3–1 1–1 1–0 1–3 2–3
Queen's Park 0–3 3–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 0–3 0–3
St Johnstone 0–1 1–3 2–2 3–0 1–3 3–0
Stirling University 0–6 0–2 1–5 3–3 2–4 1–4 1–2
Updated to match(es) played on 9 June 2021. Source: [17]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. Scottish Women's Football awarded Hamilton Academical a technical 3–0 victory after Kilmarnock fielded an ineligible player in their match on 25 October 2020. The match had originally finished 1–0 to Hamilton Academical.[18]

Statistics

Scoring

SWPL 1
No. Player For Against Date Score Ref
1 Scotland Zoe Ness Rangers Heart of Midlothian 18 October 2020 5–1 [19]
2 Scotland Kirsty Howat Glasgow City Forfar Farmington 1 November 2020 8–1 [20]
3 Scotland Donna Paterson Forfar Farmington Heart of Midlothian 8 November 2020 3–0 [21]

SWPL 2
No. Player For Against Date Score Ref
1 Scotland Bayley Hutchison Aberdeen Boroughmuir Thistle 25 October 2020 9–0 [22]


References
  1. "New Senior Structure for 2020 and beyond". Scottish Women's Premier League. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  2. "League start date announced with enhanced broadcast deal". Scottish Women's Football. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  3. Lewis, Jane (29 July 2020). "SWPL season declared null and void after one round of games". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  4. Schöggl, Hans. "Scotland (Women) - List of Champions". RSSSF.
  5. "SWPL: No relegation this season with top flight to expand to 10 teams". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  6. "Scottish Leagues 1 & 2 and SWPL 1 can train again but must test for games". BBC Sport. 3 March 2021.
  7. "Rangers and Glasgow City extend lead on bad afternoon for Celtic, Hearts and Hibs as SWPL1 resumes after shutdown". Scotsman. 4 Apr 2021. Archived from the original on 4 Apr 2021.
  8. "SWPL 2 fixtures confirmed for the remainder of the 2020/21 season". SWPL. 6 May 2021. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021.
  9. "Glasgow City see off Rangers and Celtic SWFL title challenge to make it 14 in a row". Daily Record. 6 June 2021. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021.
  10. Schöggl, Hans. "Bosnia-Hercegovina (Women) List of Champions". RSSSF.
  11. "Most consecutive titles (female)". Guinness World Records.
  12. "#SBSSWPL 2: Aberdeen 4-2 Boroughmuir Thistle". SWPL. 5 July 2021. Archived from the original on 5 July 2021.
  13. "#SBSSWPL 2: Hamilton Academical 3-0 Kilmarnock". SWPL. 5 July 2021. Archived from the original on 5 July 2021.
  14. "Forfar Farmington a sorry casualty of the professional era". The Herald. 15 August 2021. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021.
  15. "Scottish Women's Premier League". Scottish Women's Premier League. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  16. "Summary – SWPL1". Soccerway. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  17. "Summary – SWPL2". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  18. "SWF Statement – Kilmarnock v Hamilton Academical". Scottish Women's Premier League. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  19. "Rangers 5–1 Hearts". Scottish Women's Premier League. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  20. "Glasgow City 8–1 Forfar Farmington". Scottish Women's Premier League. 1 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  21. "Forfar Farmington 3–0 Hearts". Scottish Women's Premier League. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  22. "Boroughmuir Thistle 0–9 Aberdeen". Scottish Women's Premier League. 25 October 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
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